Google Video server is duff

I managed to arrive at Puerto Vallarta and the BMW Convention two days late, but still in time for the breakfast buffet, which was nice.

Tried to up load some of the videos I have taken, but a message keeps telling me their server is down.

Anyway, here’s a potted history since I last posted.
Entered Mexico after being turned away from what used to be a road but is now a large fence, to keep the Americans in I think.
No trouble at the border or at any other check points…no bribes, no theft, no intimidation, just smoothly through.
Baja is dry and we’d chosen the drier side to avoid any hurricanes. It was constantly windy, hot and did I mention dry, if not then I should have, because it was, dry, very very very dry.
The road we selected was the 5 and was well paved in the main, until a point after Saint Felipe (Chapalita I think) then no road. Dirt track, which gave way to dirt and no track, which in turn became rocks, lava, and sand…and it was dry.
We were down to less than 12 miles per hour and there was 120 miles, so even with my rudimentary maths, that’s 10 hours, non-stop and we’d need to stop for gas, if the man and his truck happened to be their. If he wasn’t, we were stuffed, 60 miles from gas in either direction.
Seemed worth a go though.
We were setting off later than hoped for which didn’t help and our 12 mph soon became less as we were drained by the heat and dry air.
Some vehicles did go passed, mega sprung desert racing machines and heavy duty 4x4s. No bikes. No bikes loaded with 6 months worth of underwear and socks and toothpaste and a spare loo roll.

Still on and on we went. The road had been created by some sort of vehicle with heavy tracks, this resulted in a constant rata tat tat vibration and teeth chattering annoyance. Standing up was the only way to make any progress, unless you are Tom, who only stands up when it’s smooth tarmac!!!!

We found the place where the truck was parked but were told no gas. I expressed surprise and for 10 pesos per litre we were filled up, you just have to ask, then ask again, and sometimes again, not give up…it was to become a theme.
Back in the desert and the sand started to take its toll me front wheel in a sand filled dip that looked flat, Tom on the ground when he lost the front.
It was getting into late afternoon and the day prior had shown how quickly the light goes, so at 5:30 I’m thinking camp. Tom is thinking ride on. At 6pm I’m convinced camping, Tom says 20 miles is well within our range, though at 10 mph that’s a 2 hour range and frankly I can’t see sand or rocks ruts or road infront, still Tom is adamant. At 6:30 I cant see the front of the bike. I’m stopping.
Tom wants to go on..cant figure out why or how until I find out that !. he’s posted his camping things back home to cut down weight and 2. he’s frightened of snakes and scorpions and is worried he’d be left to sleep outside.

If I’d known how badly he snored, he’d have been snake and scorpion bait, rather than sharing my tent.

Next day, we ride the remaining 17 off road miles. We’d have been killed if we’d attempted it in the dark. Plus, it only got us to tarmac, not to a place, not to anywhere less snake and scorpiony.

That day we rode on to Bill’s place. One of Tom’s couch surfed places. “Interesting character”.
Bill lives alone except for his cats. I don’t like cats. I wasn’t too keen on Bill either. If you took out the curse words he’d have been a trappist monk undergoing a vow of silence. But first impressions can be misleading. His was pain induced an arthritic spine appearing to be his nemesis.
That doesn’t explain the politics and other things, but he deserves some leeway.

Another long days riding starting and ending in dark. I’m sure we were passing some great places.

L

Tomorrow, Sunday, Tom heads for guadalajara and a bike repair…hope they are open!
I head for Chiapa, Acapulco and somewhere else, with a few riders who want to sightsee. Finally photo ops that aren’t cafe stops.
Google videos server willing I have some compressed video waiting to be uploaded, so drop in again, it’s a new stage in the tour.